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What Is Miley Cyrus Thinking? A New Must-See MTV Documentary Searches For Answers

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“I’m telling you, the world thinks that they know this girl, but my thing to you is: don’t be fooled,” Pharrell says in the new MTV documentary, Miley: The Movement.

No kidding. Following the release of comeback single “We Can’t Stop” and the twerk seen ’round the world at the MTV VMAs, it seems like the entire Internet is abuzz with the question: What Is Miley Cyrus Thinking? Miley: The Movement aims to answer that query, straight from Cyrus’ own mouth, when it airs Wednesday (October 2) at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

MTV started following Cyrus back in February of 2013 for the doc — before she cut off her hair, before the forthcoming Bangerzwas a topic of conversation, before the world knew she was working with Pharrell and had ditched her longtime record label (the Disney-owned Hollywood Records) and manager. But the focus here ends up being the time period between the June 3rd release of “We Can’t Stop” to her August 25th VMA performance and its aftermath.

The doc also offers insight into her new album, with Cyrus listing off a who’s who of hip-hop collaborators including Future, French Montana, will.i.am, Nelly and Juicy J, with production work courtesy of pop hit master Dr. Luke in addition to Pharrell and Mike Will Made It. Pharrell’s presence in the documentary elevates Cyrus’ credibility a touch. She’s gotten the same nods and comments endorsing her authenticity from Jay Z, in his Twitter Q&A, and Kanye West, according to Miley her Rolling Stone cover.

And, of course, also in the mix of Miley lovers is Britney Spears. MTV cameras capture the two meeting in the studio, as well as a taste of Spears recording some sassy vocals for the Bangerz track “SMS.” This leads to a filmed interview with the duo in front of the studio soundboard, giving Miley an opportunity to explain her vision for her upcoming VMA performance: make history and be memorable, like Britney did in a number of her performances at the VMAs and beyond. Cyrus uses a lot of different phrases to get the idea across in the doc, saying she wants to create a fun moment, a “strategic hot mess,” something different and not the same as everyone else. The real way to describe Cyrus’s vision for the VMAs would be to say she set out to be the water cooler moment. And she clearly succeeded.